The Ireland team to play the United States of America in the opening Pool C game in the Rugby World Cup will see nine of the starting team making their debuts at a Rugby World Cup tournament, with a further two possible debutants named among the replacements.
Geordan Murphy is named at full back with Tommy Bowe and Keith Earls completing the back three combination. Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray start an international together for the first time as the half backs, while centre Gordon D’Arcy will be winning his 60th cap.
The team will be captained by Brian O’Driscoll.
Ireland XV
15 – Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers)
14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)*
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain
12 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 – Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)*
10 – Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)*
9 – Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)*
1 – Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)*
2 – Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 – Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)*
4 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 – Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)*
7 – Shane Jennings (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)*
8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)*
Replacements:
16 – Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
17 – Tony Buckley (Sale Sharks)*
18 – Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)*
19 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 – Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 – Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
*Denotes Rugby World Cup debut
N.B. All player biographies are available on the Irish Rugby website at www.irishrugby.ie/squads/index.php
